A look at how each candidate stands

Published: Sunday, November 4, 2012 at 09:52 PM.

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He can see limiting land wind that inhibits flight training but sees no reason for offshore wind energy not to be aggressively pursued. “That would create jobs here and the energy stays right here” and thinks that using agriculture products to make ethanol is a mistake because “we are pretty much the breadbasket of the world.”

Anderson said he sees America falling behind in education and no longer able to compete on the global scale. He thinks federal cuts to education are because of economic woes that could have been prevented if defense funding for unnecessary war had been used differently.

“The Affordable Health Care Act was a compromise,” he said, stemming from the Republican Heritage plan of 1994 which Paul Ryan supported at the time. While he doesn’t see it as the perfect solution he does think young adults should be allowed to be on parents insurance until 26, that those with pre-existing conditions should have a way to get insurance and there should be no caps on total care.

He supports Medicare and Social Security.

Anderson said “$7.25 an hour is not a living wage and we have to raise that minimum” for working people to have a better quality of life but thinks that should come in conjunction with some small business tax reform.

“We need term limit reform,” he said, and he has already drafted constitutional amendments he would like to see put before the people to make a five-term maximum for the U.S. House of Representatives, a two-term maximum for U.S. Senate, and a limit of 20 years for U.S. Supreme Court Justices.

Education: Craven Community College Associate’s Degree, BA in History from East Carolina University

Employment: Former retail management, Greenville Walmart

Residence: Greenville, Winterville area

Public service: 5 years in U.S. Marine Corps

Political experience: Member of ECU College Democrats, Epsilon Chi Nu Fraternity

Civil involvement: Greenville Rotary

Erik Anderson is seeking elected office for the first time as the Democratic candidate on the 2012 ballot for the U.S. House of Representatives District 3 seat, facing nine-term incumbent Rep. Walter B. Jones.

But the 32-year-old Marine Corps veteran, formerly in retail management at the Greenville Walmart, said, “I’m not a rubber stamp for any party as Walter probably would agree. You have to file as Republican, Democrat, or Libertarian.”

“I tend to disagree with a lot of things Jones has done in the last 18 years, particularly the last 12 years,” he said, mentioning particularly the “freedom fries and pushing the war” which Jones has backed away from.

“I protested his office in 2004 almost every day,” Anderson said. “I’d just gotten out of the Marine Corps and New Bern Peace Coalition asked me to come with them.” He served during the time of the 9/11 precipitated wars but was not deployed.

“These are wars of choice, not wars of necessity,” he said. “We have to think beforehand how we are going to pay for these things. We beefed up personnel so much that to integrate soldiers back into society costs a lot of money. They have disabilities, need health care, and need jobs that aren’t there.”

He said that even with bad information prompting his decision to support the war in Iraq, as a member of the House Armed Services Committee Jones should have considered those things before going in.

Anderson sees a national move toward clean energy as also its solution to the economic crisis.

“The most serious threat to the economy is our energy policy; we need to create a real energy policy, one that puts more focus toward solar and wind energy that would create jobs here,” he said.

Making better use of clean coal and nuclear energy is important during the transition, rather than more drilling for oil, according to Anderson.

“I would love to see green energy by 2024,” he said.

He can see limiting land wind that inhibits flight training but sees no reason for offshore wind energy not to be aggressively pursued. “That would create jobs here and the energy stays right here” and thinks that using agriculture products to make ethanol is a mistake because “we are pretty much the breadbasket of the world.”

Anderson said he sees America falling behind in education and no longer able to compete on the global scale. He thinks federal cuts to education are because of economic woes that could have been prevented if defense funding for unnecessary war had been used differently.

“The Affordable Health Care Act was a compromise,” he said, stemming from the Republican Heritage plan of 1994 which Paul Ryan supported at the time. While he doesn’t see it as the perfect solution he does think young adults should be allowed to be on parents insurance until 26, that those with pre-existing conditions should have a way to get insurance and there should be no caps on total care.

He supports Medicare and Social Security.

Anderson said “$7.25 an hour is not a living wage and we have to raise that minimum” for working people to have a better quality of life but thinks that should come in conjunction with some small business tax reform.

“We need term limit reform,” he said, and he has already drafted constitutional amendments he would like to see put before the people to make a five-term maximum for the U.S. House of Representatives, a two-term maximum for U.S. Senate, and a limit of 20 years for U.S. Supreme Court Justices.

He would also like to see laws preventing those running for office from taking contributions from those they regulate, like the military industrial establishment. “If you are taking money from them, can you assure the voters they are not buying influence?”

Anderson said he sees his major strengths as his core values of “service, sacrifice, empathy and compassion” which he would carry to Washington.

Sue Book can be reached at 252 635-5665 or sue.book@newbernsj.com. Follow her on Twitter@SueJBook.

Walter B. Jones Jr.

Republican

Born: 1943, Farmville

Residence: Farmville

Occupation: U.S. House Representative, formerly in insurance and small business

Married, one daughter

Education: BA History, Atlantic Christian (now Barton) College

Political Experience: N.C. House of Representatives 1983-1993, U.S. House of Representatives 1995 to present

U.S. Rep. Walter B. Jones Jr. is asking the voters of a slightly altered district 3 for another two years in Washington, D.C. to work toward ending the war, reducing the deficit and protecting the interests of Eastern North Carolina.

A Republican, Jones has pushed for American troops to come home since early in the Iraq War and the member of the House Armed Services Committee said more and more people in his party and in the military are coming to his way of thinking that “we don’t need to wait until 2014 to bring our troops home.”

“Nothing will really change between now and then,” he said. “I’ve been working across the aisle with Democratic friends on a plan to bring them home in the Spring and Fall of 2013. We know it takes six to 10 months to get everything moving out but how many more of our young men and women do we have to lose.”

Jones does not always follow the party line on other matters and said in the wake of Hurricane Sandy that he does not agree with Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s position on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

“I think they do a pretty good job even though you’re not going to make everybody happy,” Jones said.

Seeking his 10th term, Jones said, “Term limits are not the answer to the problems in congress but changing the way we finance campaigns is necessary. The decision by the Supreme Court to allow super Pac’s is the worst decision they every make. I have no problem with anybody giving but we need full disclosure. If anybody is putting money into a campaign the voters should know who’s behind it. If I get re-elected, I intend to get a bill introduced for full disclosure.”

Jones said he is aware his opponent “has spoken out on wind energy and my concern about wind energy is how that is going to impact our bases. I’m not opposed to wind but we have got to find compatibility with our bases.”

As for other sources of energy, Jones said, “Off shore exploration should be left to the states. It has been my position for 18 years that should be a contract between state and a corporation that wants to explore.”

“When I have to cast vote that impacts someone else’s district I go to them and so far I’ve been able to be respected for that,” he said. “I support pipeline from Canada through Nebraska.”

On matters of immigration Jones and his opponent both said that the country has got to protect its borders. “I don’t think you can have comprehensive debate until you have stopped the influx of people coming to this country illegally,” Jones said. “I think people want laws enforced when that happens think there will be debate but until then don’t think you’ll see that.”

On matters of federal involvement in education, Jones said, “I have always been opposed to federal government and the Department of Education trying to dictate to the states. I did not vote for No Child Left Behind and give Obama credit on this for letting Sec. of Education Arne Duncan allow states who feel it is too big a burden to opt out. North Carolina made a request not to continue with No Child Left Behind and was given permission.”

“I see limited partnerships between the states and federal government on education but do not thing the federal government under any circumstances should be setting the agenda,” Jones said. “If there is federal money to support education available that is fine as long as the strings it’s tied to don’t hinder teachers or children.”

But Jones said he doesn’t see federal money for that and many of the functions traditionally performed by states available: “The problem about money is that we’re headed for collapse if we don’t change the way government spends money.”

“There has got to be a safety net,” Jones said of programs including food stamps which “I support for those who have proven need for no fault of their own. Yet, there are some people who will take advantage but good management can keep that in check.”

“My votes speak for what I’m saying.” Jones said. “I voted in the House to repeal Obamacare but there are certain aspects of healthcare we need to address but don’t need a federal takeover. Yes, people with pre-existing conditions should have an opportunity to have affordable health insurance. There are certain aspects of Obamacare that definitely should be kept in place.”

Jones said, “I’m for maintaining Social Security. I didn’t vote for the Ryan budget. I’m not for vouchers. Do I think Medicare is in trouble, yes, but don’t think the way to fix it is by voucher. Congress has the responsibility to fix the problems with Medicare and we have to figure out how to do this together.”

“There is a lot to think about when the country can’t pay its own bills,” Jones said.

On the minimum wage, Jones said “I try to remember there are a lot of independent business people trying to create jobs. I’m willing to listen but will have to study the impact on small business. If they can’t take it without cutting jobs, that’s not the answer.”

Asked what was his most important strength, Jones spoke of his religion, which takes him to mass every week, and “one of the best staffs in America. I’m amazed with the commitment of this team, the seniority and experience and their knowledge of how to get things done in D.C. that are good for the people in Eastern North Carolina.”

Sue Bookcan be reached at 252 635-5665 or sue.book@newbernsj.com. Follow her on Twitter@SueJBook.